Among Green Bay’s group of 10 wide receivers, Chris Harper said “being the most physical” will separate him. “I think I’m the strongest,” said the 2013 fourth-round pick who was discarded by Seattle and San Francisco before the Packers picked him up.

I'm thinking Chris Harper and our WR group is one of the more compelling stories going into this 2014 season - just because he and this group are so rich in talent.

This player really, really moves, with speed and power, and he makes catches. I'm really amazed by the amount of talent at our WR position. This is going to be one hell of a battle in TC, and we will be cutting very good players. I'm hoping Ted can work a trade, because we have too much as it stands.

Harper could easily work the slot IMO.

Here is more from Jason Wilde:

Quote:

“Chris has really improved,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after watching Harper make several terrific catches during the June 3 open OTA practice. “I still go back to his K-State film. You talk about a very talented, powerful, young player. He looks more and more comfortable with what we’re asking him to do, and I don’t think that was the case last year when he came here. So he’s having a very good offseason.”

While part of Harper’s problem last year was having three playbooks rattling around in his head, he said he actually picked up the Packers’ offense relatively quickly. His greater issue was undoing what the 49ers had done to him, having worked him as a tight end and H-back in hopes that at 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds and with a less-than-blazing 40 time (4.55 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine), he might be better suited for that position.

“I play receiver. I don’t play tight end, which is what San Fran really had me playing,” Harper said. “I don’t even know how to get into a three-point stance. We had to work on getting into a three-point stance. In the NFL, you shouldn’t have to work on a stance. I had to go back to like Day 1 of football. It was kind of – I don’t know. I don’t want to say it couldn’t have worked out but it was during the season and I missed camp and all the basic stuff.”

Now, that’s exactly what he’s getting in Green Bay – and exactly what he needs.

“I learned the offense and all that, but during practice, I was just thinking. I couldn’t be out there and be natural,” Harper said of last season. “That was probably the biggest thing for me. I knew the plays and I knew a lot of the stuff, [although] not as well as I know it now. I know the intricacies of our offense now, but it’s just being natural. I don’t have to think about it anymore. I can just go for it. I know exactly what everyone is doing. I can just go out there and play.

“Getting the whole offseason, it’s a different world.”

He’ll need that kind of comfort to crack the 53-man roster. After the top four, the Packers are high on rookie fifth-round pick Jared Abbrederis of Wisconsin and seventh-round pick Jeff Janis of Saginaw Valley State; while holdovers Myles White (nine receptions last season) and 2013 seventh-round pick Kevin Dorsey are in the mix, too. Even if the Packers keep six wideouts, Harper will still have to make an excellent training-camp and preseason impression to be among them. If he succeeds, he’ll get to line up against the Seahawks in the Sept. 4 regular-season opener.

And yet, Harper clearly doesn’t lack for confidence, as evidenced by what he told Rodgers when the two chatted during OTAs.

“[The number of receivers on the roster] pushes me, but I don’t really think about it like that,” Harper said. “Because like I said to ‘A-Rod,’ I’m not trying to beat anybody out to make the team, I’m trying to start. I’m trying to go for Jordy and Randall, I’m not trying to just play.

I know for many that it might be difficult to get excited about this player without having had an opportunity to see him in OTAs. All I can say is WOW! Harper is very, very good - a completely different player than we knew last year. He literally turned heads in the Ray Nitschke Field stands and had people asking, "WHO was THAT?!!!" He is now looking that good. Should make for an incredibly competitive camp.

He surely doesn't lack the confidence. The WR position is going to be a hard one to crack on this team. Being realistic, he might get the 6th spot.

Safe:NelsonCobbBoykinAdamsAbbrederis (return game automatic)

Adams and Abbrederis will secure the 2 spots after the 3 vets.

Fighting for the 6th spot:HarperJanisWhiteDorsey Gillett

Early prediction, I'd say Harper beats everyone out. Janis is put onto the practice squad. I don't know the situation with the other 3 players (how long they have been on the PS, if they are eligible to return, etc.)

If they try putting Janis on the PS, he'll never make it if he shows anything at all during TC and pre-season.

I did find it interesting SF wanted to turn him into a TE due to his poor 4.55 speed and our 2nd rounder has speed that is one hundredth slower at 4.56.

Hopefully, he really is a late bloomer... being cut by two NFL teams is rough in your first year being a 4th rounder. You really have to show nothing to get cut but it was from two of the best rosters in the NFL.

This and the TE roster spots are the two that I'm most looking forward to.

“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche (not said in reference to Lane Taylor)

If they try putting Janis on the PS, he'll never make it if he shows anything at all during TC and pre-season.

I did find it interesting SF wanted to turn him into a TE due to his poor 4.55 speed and our 2nd rounder has speed that is one hundredth slower at 4.56.

Hopefully, he really is a late bloomer... being cut by two NFL teams is rough in your first year being a 4th rounder. You really have to show nothing to get cut but it was from two of the best rosters in the NFL.

This and the TE roster spots are the two that I'm most looking forward to.

Are you saying he won't make it as in, another team will snatch him up asap? That is in the back of my mind simply because of his numbers and his production at the level of football he played (measurables are nice too). He'd have to put up a pretty big performance in TC and pre-season ball though, wouldn't you think?

Personally, I hope he makes the team. But I also have to sit back and realize he is a 7th round pick from a lower level of college football going up against 2nd year guys that might have a little more than he has in terms of skill and experience.

Is the number of receivers a definite 6? Has there ever been more on the roster? It will be fun to see how this plays out (as well as the tight ends).

If they try putting Janis on the PS, he'll never make it if he shows anything at all during TC and pre-season.

I did find it interesting SF wanted to turn him into a TE due to his poor 4.55 speed and our 2nd rounder has speed that is one hundredth slower at 4.56.

Hopefully, he really is a late bloomer... being cut by two NFL teams is rough in your first year being a 4th rounder. You really have to show nothing to get cut but it was from two of the best rosters in the NFL.

This and the TE roster spots are the two that I'm most looking forward to.

Agreed, but they could IR him or one of the other guys.

What are the odds that all the WR on this team will remain healthy?

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

He surely doesn't lack the confidence. The WR position is going to be a hard one to crack on this team. Being realistic, he might get the 6th spot.

Safe:NelsonCobbBoykinAdamsAbbrederis (return game automatic)

Adams and Abbrederis will secure the 2 spots after the 3 vets.

Fighting for the 6th spot:HarperJanisWhiteDorsey Gillett

Early prediction, I'd say Harper beats everyone out. Janis is put onto the practice squad. I don't know the situation with the other 3 players (how long they have been on the PS, if they are eligible to return, etc.)

Seems the most likely scenario. This is a tough team to make the WR cut on, but he has a legit shot at it.

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